The speedy centre fielder with a sky high talent level will open the season at triple-A Buffalo, a short drive down the highway from the Rogers Centre.

He’s that close to becoming a member of the big league club, an everyday player in centre field, a player who in no short order should be tabbed as one of the stars of the game.

Gose has got game. Lots of it.

The legend of Gose has been on the Blue Jays fans radar ever since he was acquired from Houston in exchange for Brett Wallace. He had been coveted by Alex Anthopoulos for a number of years, the Jays GM believing that he had the potential to be a disruptive force — the Jays version of Carl Crawford when the outfielder played so brilliantly for Tampa.

In Wednesday’s spring game against the Pirates, Gose should how disruptive he could be and how his best asset — speed — can be so productive.

Gose opened the game with a walk and Emilio Bonifacio followed with a nubber down the third-base line. Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez came charging in and fielding the ball barehanded, fired wild and up the line and by first, the ball bouncing against the facing of the stands.

Gose, on the run, hit second and was headed to third on the throw. When the throw sailed wide, Gose never stopped running and slid home safely, easily beating the tag.

Gose knows he has no shot to break with the Jays in just over two weeks time, that Buffalo will be his home and that Colby Rasmus will be the Jays’ everyday centre fielder.

The question is, for how long?

“Offensively, he’s really coming around,” manager John Gibbons said of Gose prior to Wednesday’s game. “Everybody has said that once he gets that going, he’s got a chance to be a great player. He’s starting to do it and he’s had a tremendous spring.”

While the blistering speed has always been there for Gose, Gibbons believes he can become dangerous at the plate.

“He’s got some pop in his bat, too. He has the chance to drive the ball, hit some home runs, drive the gaps, hit a lot of triples, that sort of thing,” Gibbons said. “He’s not you typical speed guy that just slaps singles around. He’s got a chance to hit his share of home runs. He’s got a chance to be very, very good.”

Defensively, Gibbons thinks that Gose has few peers.

“He’s as good as I’ve seen out there,” the manager replied. “It’s effortless for him. He gets great reads and jumps on the ball and has as good an arm as anybody you’ll see. And he’s accurate with that thing.

“I’d like to be his agent.”

Gose has heard all the praise before but knows there is much he can improve on before he gets the call for good. The cockiness he once displayed has been replaced by a measured respect of what he needs to work on to get to the major leagues for good.

Called up last season when the injuries piled up, Gose appeared in 56 games, had 166 at-bats and in that time hit .223 with seven doubles, three triples, one home run, 11 RBIs, 25 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 18 attempts.

How close does he think he is to making and staying in the big leagues?

“It’s tough to say,” Gose said. “My mind doesn’t matter or count anyway. It’s all about what the organization and staff thinks and feels. I don’t really think about it too much. They’ll just tell me where I’m going and right now I’m going to Buffalo.”

A taste of the big leagues last year showed Gose that he needs to add to his game before he is major-league ready.

“I mean, you’ve got to improve everywhere,” Gose said of the difference. “Just being consistent all the way around defensively. Offensively moreso than anything. I’ve got to get better all the way around to play at that level. It showed last year in the way I struggled. I still have a lot of work to do.”

Being the confident guy that he is, was he surprised that he did struggle?

“It’s one thing to think it,” Gose said. “But it’s another thing to actually go out there and do it. You hear a lot of talk about how people think they’re ready but you really don’t know until you get there and it hits you. It’s easy to talk about but it’s another thing to go out there and actually be ready.”

So, for Gose, there’s a lot still to be done, especially on offence.

“I just want to hit the ball,” he said. “I don’t care if it goes over the fence or two feet. I just want to be able to hit the ball and be in the big leagues and play. That’s all that matters. I just want to be in the big leagues and play every day.”

PIRATES 5, JAYS 4

CF Anthony Gose raced from first to home on Emilio Bonifacio’s infield single that third baseman Pedro Alvarez threw up the line.

LF Melky Cabrera made a strong one-hop throw to C Mike Nickeas to nail Martin trying to score from second.

DH Adam Lind went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and this spring is hitting .464 (13-for-28).

Leading 4-2, Jays RHP Tyson Brummett allowed two runs in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. In the 10th, LHP Tommy Hottovy hit two batters before allowing a game-winning single.

Speedy centre fielder has lots of game

The speedy centre fielder with a sky high talent level will open the season at triple-A Buffalo, a short drive down the highway from the Rogers Centre.

He’s that close to becoming a member of the big league club, an everyday player in centre field, a player who in no short order should be tabbed as one of the stars of the game.

Gose has got game. Lots of it.

The legend of Gose has been on the Blue Jays fans radar ever since he was acquired from Houston in exchange for Brett Wallace. He had been coveted by Alex Anthopoulos for a number of years, the Jays GM believing that he had the potential to be a disruptive force — the Jays version of Carl Crawford when the outfielder played so brilliantly for Tampa.

In Wednesday’s spring game against the Pirates, Gose should how disruptive he could be and how his best asset — speed — can be so productive.